A U.S. Air Force service member is dead after plunging to the turf during a pregame rappelling demonstration at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Saturday night, turning what was meant to be a tribute to the military into a horrifying scene in front of more than 23,000 fans.

The airman was one of four service members rappelling from the stadium's ceiling as part of UTSA's "Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans" pregame ceremony ahead of the Roadrunners' matchup with Navy, according to San Antonio's KSAT. The San Antonio Fire Department said the fall happened just before 7 p.m., moments after the band began playing and the demonstration got underway.

Witnesses described a routine display turning to chaos in seconds. "Once the band started playing, there was a guy that fell down," witness Adrian Corey told KSAT, adding that the airman "started coming down fast."

"IT DID NOT LOOK GOOD." — witness Siomara Corey, describing the scene inside the Alamodome

UTSA staff and medical personnel rushed to the airman, treating him on the field for several minutes before he was carried off on a gurney and then a golf cart, CBS News reported. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he died. His identity had not been publicly released as of Sunday afternoon.

Who was he?

A Nellis Air Force Base spokesperson confirmed the airman belonged to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, a unit based at the Nevada installation. Members of that squadron train alongside Army and Marine units, embedding with ground forces to help direct air and artillery strikes — training that includes rapid rope descents sometimes conducted from helicopters 100 feet or higher, according to Military.com. The Air Force said the fall remains under investigation and more details are expected as the probe continues.

Despite a roughly 10-minute delay, the game went on. UTSA beat Navy 38-34 in front of a stunned crowd that had just watched a man fall from the Alamodome's rafters.

UTSA President Taylor Eighmy called it a day "marked by profound sadness," saying the tragedy's impact "extends far beyond those who were present at the Alamodome." Athletic director Lisa Campos said "moments like these remind us that we are all part of something much greater than a game," while head coach Jeff Traylor called the accident "heartbreaking" and "tragic."

San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said she was "deeply saddened" and asked the community to keep the airman's family in their prayers. The American Athletic Conference said it is working with UTSA, the Alamodome and local authorities to review what happened.

UTSA has activated wellbeing services for students, faculty and staff, including a 24/7 crisis hotline and employee assistance programs, as the campus and military community mourn. Nellis Air Force Base public affairs says it will release the airman's identity and findings from the investigation as they become available.